The key points from the Opinion can be summarised as follows:
- Processing
personal information is indispensable to web-based services
- Many
services on the Internet have become dependent on often covert tracking of
individuals, the latter being generally unaware of the nature and extent of
that
- EDPS voices its concern about how market power and
personal data are concentrated in fewer and fewer hands
- Authorities need to work more closely to protect
the rights and interests of individuals, as the right to privacy, to freedom of
expression and non-discrimination
- According to the EDPS, data protection, consumer
and competition law each in theory serve common goals, but in reality they
generally work in silos
EDPS calls for a re-engineering of regulation on the EU regarding big
data and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In order to avoid the threats to the fundamental rights posed by
standards and behaviours which have become the norm, EDPS calls for:
- Establishing
a Digital Clearing House for enforcement in the EU digital sector
- A
voluntary network of regulatory bodies to share information about possible
abuses in the digital environment and ways to tackle these in an effective way
- Guidance
on how regulators could apply rules protecting individuals
- Creating
a common area on the web where individuals can interact without being tracked,
aligned with the Charter of Fundamental Rights
- Updating
the rules on merger controls so as to better protect online privacy personal
information and freedom of expression
Privacy and data protection are fundamental rights
in the European Union. Data protection is a fundamental right, protected by EU
law and codified in Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union.
The press statement can be found here.
